View source for The Finishing Touches by Hester Browne

{{infobox1
|title=The Finishing Touches
|sort= Finishing Touches
|author=Hester Browne
|reviewer=Zoe Morris
|genre=Women's Fiction
|summary=Whether rescuing a business in the throes of bankruptcy or getting out of a car without flashing your pants, ''The Finishing Touches'' are all you need to survive elegantly.
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=384
|publisher=Hodder Paperbacks
|date=May 2010
|isbn=978-0340937808
|cover=0340937807
|aznuk=0340937807
|aznus=0340937807
}}

As the daughter of its owner, and a highly experience management consultant to boot, Betsy is the obvious choice to call for help in turning around a finishing school failing to make the grade in 21st century London. Except... Betsy never attended the school as a student, and she's not so much 'management consultant' as she is 'shop assistant' – a distinction many a proud parent could be forgiven for missing. With the Tallimore Academy facing financial ruin, however, Betsy isn't so much their best hope as she is their only hope.
 
This is a lovely little book that is part fabulous fiction and part top tips – every chapter starts with a handy hint on how to behave as a lady, or survive any unfortunate situation, and many of the pages are peppered with further advice along these lines, making this a much cheaper but just as useful investment as a term or two in a finishing school. The tips are a clear cut above those you'd find in the likes of ''Love It'' – they're simple yet obvious solutions to common problems (how to avoid leaving lipstick on your champagne flute, why fishnets go better with high heels than ordinary stockings, and so on)
 
This is a book of contrasts, and these complement the story beautifully, from Liv with her [Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella|Shopaholic-esque]]  approach to life to Bursar Mark's firm hold on reality and from the lovely and laid pack Lord Tallimore to professional glamour puss Adele. Even the lessons the girls receive span the whole spectrum from the art of conversation to how to give your man a makeover without him ever realising.
 
Some attempts at chick lit are repetitive and samey, some are ok but written in a style that really grates, and some surpass all this and deliver a fresh take on a juicy topic, written in such an engaging way you can't consider putting it down for even a second. ''The Finishing Touches'' definitely falls into the latter category: it is sexy and sweet, funny and flirty, witty and wonderful. It is a stylish book as slick and polished and as able to hold its own against the competition as any Tallimore graduate. Highly recommended.
 
Thanks go to the publishers for sending us this book.
 
Want an even greater chick-lit fix? Why not add [[The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand]] and [[A Date in Your Diary by Jules Stanbridge]] to your pile as well?

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